When Dr. Bonnie McGregor founded the Orion Center for Integrative Medicine in 2015, it was with one clear conviction: cancer care must treat the whole person. As a psychologist, researcher, and advocate, Dr. McGregor has long been passionate about bringing integrative and psychological care into the standard of cancer treatment—not as an afterthought, but as an essential part of healing.

Earlier in a career at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Dr. McGregor had the privilege of conducting research that demonstrated something profound: psychological interventions don’t just improve mood, they can also strengthen immune function and even extend survival among cancer survivors. The evidence was clear, but the challenge remained—how could these interventions be moved off the shelf and into the lives of real people? Dr. McGregor believed that creating a nonprofit was the best way to deliver evidence-based integrative care directly to patients and families.

At Orion, a model was built that brought psychologists together with integrative providers—acupuncturists, nutritionists, massage therapists, and more. The goal was to complete what Dr. McGregor calls “the circle of care,” working in tandem with Western medicine to provide the most comprehensive support possible. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy save lives. But alongside them, integrative approaches like guided imagery, oncology massage, nutritional counseling, and psychotherapy help patients not only survive but heal.

Over the years, Dr. McGregor has learned that cancer patients’ needs evolve across the journey. At diagnosis, information and clarity are essential. During treatment, integrative modalities can reduce side effects and provide calm. And often, the deepest emotional healing doesn’t begin until after treatment ends. Survivors may find themselves struggling to “feel better” long after their doctors have declared them disease-free. This is because cancer is traumatic, and the work of healing often comes later, when the body has regained strength.

What Dr. McGregor finds most fulfilling is accompanying people through these transitions—supporting patients and families at a time when life feels uncertain, yet also full of possibility for growth. In 2025, Orion merged with Cancer Lifeline, an organization Dr. McGregor had admired for years as a close neighbor in the Dorothy O’Brien Center. Joining forces has been a gift, combining their strengths to expand access and deepen the impact of integrative care across the community. Together, they are ensuring that cancer care addresses not only the body, but also the mind, spirit, and whole person.